LEH: To celebrate the wildlife week, the five-day Eco-guide training programme for unemployed youth from wildlife protection areas of Leh District commenced here on Wednesday.
The Executive Councilor for Works, Dorjey Mutup inaugurated the training programme.
The 5-day training is being organized by the Department of Wildlife Protection Division Leh annually to train maximum local youths in eco-guiding with the aim to improve their personal experience and livelihood standard through eco-tourism by engaging themselves as nature guide for tourists visiting the area. The ongoing training programme is being participated by about 80 unemployed youths from Wildlife Protection Areas of Leh this year. The Councilor Martselang Jamyang Tsering Namgial and members of Wildlife Conservation and Birds Club of Ladakh were present on the occasion.
Councilor Sku-Markha Sonam Norboo thanked Wildlife Department for organizing such training programme.
Highlighting the importance of wildlife in benefiting tourism industry of Leh in many ways, Dr. Padma Gurmet, Officer In-charge/Convener, National Institute for Sowa-Rigpa, Leh, said that it is not only an opportunity for youths of Ladakh to earn handsome income through this wonderful profession but they could also educate entire world about the rich flora and fauna of Ladakh.
The Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Leh, Jigmet Takpa presented a glimpse of rich Ladkahi culture, flora, funa and wildlife through a presentation. Urging participants to make maximum from the training with utmost passion, Jigmet said that this career has ample scope to earn very good income starting from Rs 10,000 per day if the guide is professional.
Wildlife Worden, Leh, Tsering Angchuk briefed about the aim and objectives of training.